USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Ipswich > Town annual report of Ipswich 1914 > Part 6
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Town
Population
Manager,s Salary
Clerk, Treasurer and Collector
Belmont.
5542
$1500
$1230
Total $2730
Reading
5818
1700
1404
3104
Concord .
6421
3000
664
3664
Hingham ..
. 4965
..
1500
1400
.
2900
Marblehead .. 7338
1800
1440
3240
Peabody .. .
15721
2200
. ..
...
..
3100
Wakefield
11404
1950
950
2900
Hudson
6743
1900
416
2316
Danvers.
9407
1250
.....
624
.....
1874
Ipswich
5777
400
330
...
730
...
..
Note that the total paid runs from $3664.00 in Concord, to $1874.00 in Danvers, and then comes Ipswich with only $730.00. a little over one third of what the lowest of the other 9 towns pay, and remember also that the $730.00 covers the salary of the Manager $400.00, Mr. Bamford, treasurer $100.00, Mr. Riley, collector $100. and Miss Atherley, bookkeeper, $130.
In view of the facts shown in all the foregoing tables, can it be doubted that the members of the Commission and the Manager have given faithful service and have established the fact that in Ipswich Municipal ownership, kept free from politics and run on a business proposition, can be, and is, a success. As manager of the plant, I desire to go on record as saying that the success of the Ipswich Plant is due largely to the fact that I have at all times had the earnest and hearty cooperation of my fellow members of the
.
900
. .
.
. .
27
Municipal Light Report.
Commission. and that the citizens have year after year refused to drag politics into this department of the town service.
The following table shows the increase in the number of com- mercial customers, and the increase in the receipts for sale of cur- rent each year since the plant was established ;-
Year
No. Services
Sale of Current and Power ·
1904
69
$ 3605 53
1905
105
7076 77
1906
131
8330 68
1907
170
7462 43
1908
195
9010 34
1909
218
9178 74
1910
269
10594 48
1911
323
12159 42
1912
362
14557 45
1913
435
16131 80
1914
477
17380 33
Note the steady, healthy growth as shown by the figures in the above table. The only year when there was a drop, was in 1907, and this was due to the loss of the Ipswich Mills as a customer, when they established their own plant.
In completing my eleventh year as manager of the Municipal Lighting Plant, having been the chairman of the committee which put in the plant and manager from the start to the present time, I am pleased to again be able to point out that this last year has not been an exception to the general rule. As is well known, I was the early agitator for a Town plant, and was opposed from the start by many who honestly believed that such a plant could not succeed in Ipswich. That it has been a success is a source of the greatest pleasure to me, not because I have been proven to be in the right, but because it has given to the people of Ipswich a municipal department of which they have a good right to be proud. To the citizens of Ipswich, to my fellow commissioners and to the employees of the department. all of whom have by their coopera- tion and assistance brought about this success, I extend my sincere thanks.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE A. SCHOFIELD, Manager.
28
Municipal Light Report.
TREASURER'S STATEMENT.
CHESTER W. BAMFORD, Treasurer, Electric Light Department, Town of Ipswich.
DR.
Cash on hand, Jan. 1914.
$2,597 30
To amounts received:
Commercial light
$15647 62
Town buildings
506 71
Jobbing
797 77
Power.
2000 00
Note issue, New construction
2000 00
Depreciation appropriation
2.040 00
Note appropriation
1950 00
Interest appropriation
2542 00
Insurance dividends.
90 00
Rent of department poles
224 40
Miscellaneous.
1 00
$27,799 50
$30,396 80
CR.
By paid:
Department orders.
21670 40
Notes
1950 00
Interest
2542 00
$26162 40
Balance, Jan. 1915
4234 40
The Treasurer has the following bills for collection: Commercial light $1608 53
Jobbing 214 94
$30,396 80
$1,823 47
AUDITOR'S STATEMENT.
I have examined the accounts of the Water and Electric De- partments and the accounts of the Sinking Fund and find them cor- rect. ARTHUR H. WALTON, Auditor.
ELECTRIC LIGHT LOAN.
HELD BY
Amount Rate Date of Issue No. Notes.
Maturities.
Chelsea Savings Bank.
$12,000
4
Oct. 1,
190312 notes 11-23|1915-1926 inc
Malden Savings Bank.
2.000
4
2 notes 24-25 1927-1928 inc
Sinking Fund, Ipswich Water Dept ....
3,000
4
3 notes 26-28 1929-1931 ine
Malden Savings Bank.
5,000
4
Dec. 15, 1903 5 notes 29-33 1915-1919 inc
Sinking Fund, Ipswich Water Dept ....
2,000
4
1904
2 notes 34-35 1920-1921
Holliston Savings Bank. .
4,000
4
¥
4 notes 36-39 1922-1925 inc
State of Massachusetts
4,000
4
May 1, 1905
4 notes 40-43 1926-1929 inc
Sinking Fund, Ipswich Water Dept ....
2,000
4
Dec. 15. 1906 2 notes 44-45 1930-1931
Cemetery Trust Funds, Ipswich.
2,000
4
June 15,
1907
2 notes 46-47 1932-1933
North Avenue Savings Bank. .
2,000
4
30,
1908
2 notes
1-2 1934-1935
Malden Savings Bank.
2,000
4
15,
1909
2 notes
1-2 1936-1937
Sinking Fund, Ipswich Water Dept.
2,000
4
30, 1910
4 notes 21-24 1931-1934 inc
Five Cent Savings Bank, Lynn ..
4,500
4
Oct. 1,
1910 9 notes 4-13 1915-1923 inc
Sinking Fund, Ipswich Water Dept ....
3,500
4
1910 7 notes 14-20 1924-1930'inc
Ipswich Savings Bank.
5,000
4
Dec. 30, 191020 notes 5-24 1915-1934 inc
Sinking Fund, Ipswich Water Dept ...
1,800
4
June 29, 1912 1 note 24
$100.00 ea.yr
George A. Schofield .
1,900
4
30, 1913 1 note 41
$100.00 ea.yr
Sinking Fund, Ipswich Water Dept ....
2,000
4
1 note
40
$100 00 ea.yr
Sinking Fund, Ipswich Water Dept ...
2,000
4
1914
1 note
$100.00 ea.yr
Total,
$62.700
:
.6
Municipal Light Report.
29
30
Municipal Light Report.
COMMISSIONERS' REPORT.
To the citizens of Ipswich,
Gentlemen :-
The Water and Municipal Lighting Commissioners submit their annual report for the year ending December 31, 1914.
WATER DEPARTMENT.
On pages four to sixteen inclusive, will be found a detailed ac- count of the receipts and expenditures of this department for the year 1914. A study of those figures will show that this department, year after year, continues to demonstrate the wisdom of those who twenty-three years ago, against the strongest kind of opposition, convinced the citizens of Ipswich that the efforts of private parties to own and control the water supply of Ipswich should be defeated, and at last convinced the voters to establish a town plant.
From the annual earnings of this department we are paying not only the running expense, but also the interest on the debt and the annual amount of the sinking fund. We are not asking for a dollar for these purposes from the tax payers, and in addition, we are furnishing free hydrant service for fire protection. Contrast the conditions today with what they would have been if a private company had succeeded in getting control here. Let us look for a moment also at what the financial standing of the plant is. First we give what we consider the assets are today :-
Value of the plant at cost. $220,243 00
Water rates due.
3,858 20
Service Wurk due.
178 89
Cash on hand, treasury
4,953 32
Cash in sinking fund
80,309 24
Total $309,542.65
A grand total of $309,542.65. We reckon the value of the plant at cost, although it would be worth more than that if the town de- sired to sell it today.
31
Municipal Light Report.
Now on the other hand what do we owe ?
Bonds to be redeemed. $160,000 00
Notes to be paid
30,750 00
Total
$190,750.00
Deduct this from the $309,542.65 and we have left $118.792.65 as the amount that our water plant is worth today above what we owe for it. Of this amount $45,414.23 has been raised by taxation in the earlier years of the plant for sinking fund and notes, which amount deducted from the $118,792.65. leaves $73,378.42.
We estimate the expenditure for 1915 to be as follows : Interest $7630.00, Sinking Fund $4276.52, Maintenance $5000. We do not ask for any appropriation, as we believe that the receipts will be sufficient to pay all charges as they have been for the past four years.
The unpaid bills of the department for 1914 are : J. H. Lakeman $6.66, Chronicle Publishing Co. $6.00.
ELECTRIC LIGHT DEPARTMENT.
Pages 17 to 29 inclusive of this report, give a full account of the receipts and expenditures of this department. The interesting tables contained in the Manager's report, tell the story of the suc- cess of this department and we join with him in congratulating the town on the very successful showing made, as well as on the envi- able position Ipswich takes in comparison with towns of equal population.
Our five year contract to sell electricity to Rowley, will expire in June of this year. We are negotiating with a committee from Rowley as to the terms of a new contract for the future. We have had under consideration the question of lower power rates for lps- wich, but as it will probably make it necessary to install new machinery if we continue to supply Rowley and also take on a large power load for Ipswich, we have deemed it advisable not to promulgate new rates until it is determined whether or not we are to continue to supply Rowley. We desire to give low power rates if it can be done without loss to the town, or without compelling the house owners and storekeepers to pay higher rates to make up
32
Municipal Light Report.
the loss on power. Our investigation has shown that very low rates for power, while beneficial for those who use power, has worked an injustice to others in a number of places and we are making a careful study to avoid that mistake in Ipswich.
We regret that while the Town at the last annual meeting adopted our recommendation that an Inspector of wires and poles be appointed by the Selectmen, that by accident no appropriation was made to pay for such work. We trust that the matter will be attended to at the coming meeting. There should be inspection and there should be rules and regulations governing both house and outside wiring.
Last year, we recommended that the town should stop the ap- propriation of $1500 for street lighting as we believed that we could get along without it. In spite of increased expense for com- pensation insurance on our employees and public insurance, and the Joss of the $1500 appropriation, we have increased our cash balance, and we again recommend that no appropriation be made for street lighting, and also that a note of $1000 which falls due this year, be paid from our cash balance instead of being raised by taxation.
'The cost of our electric plant to Jan. 1, 1914 is $94,354.09. We owe $62,700 leaving a balance on the right side of nearly $32,000.
The following bills incurred in 1914 were unpaid Jan. 1, 1915 : American Express Co. $6.83, A. G. Osborn $29.70, General Electric Co. $118.08, Pettengill-Andrews Co. $104.68.
We desire to point out that the work of Mr. William Riley as collector for both departments has resulted in a large reduction of the amount of unpaid bills in both departments.
We extend to the public, and to the employees of both depart- ments, our thanks for their kindness and cooperation, and trust that we in turn have won their appreciation and confidence.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE A. SCHOFIELD, GEORGE H. W. HAYES, WILLIAM H. RAND,
Water and Municipal Light Commission.
Ipswich, January, 1915.
Annual Report
OF THE
School Committee
OF THE
Town of Ipswich
MAS
MS&
U.S A.
AF
THE BIRTHPLACE OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE 1687
For the Year 1914.
Charles G. Hull, Printer 8 Cogswell St., Ipswich, Mass. 1915.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Report of School Committee
Page 5
Where the School Money Goes.
12
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
13
Report of the School Physician.
78
List of Teachers
81
Auditor's Report
83
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
George H. W. Hayes. Term Expires 1915
George E. MacArthur
1916
George W. Tozer 66
1917
ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL BOARD.
George H. W. Hayes, Chairman. George E. MacArthur, George W. Tozer, Committee on Repairs.
OFFICERS OF SCHOOL BOARD.
Frederic B. Knight, Superintendent. Dr. George E. MacArthur, School Physician. W. B. Atkinson, J. R. Richards, Truant Officers. Frederick S. Witham, Clerk.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The School Committee beg to submit herewith their annual report.
Organization.
Your Committee consider that their position calls for a gen- eral supervision of the Educational Department of your Town Government. That when the laws of the Commonwealth pro- vided there should be a Superintendent of Schools it was in- tended by such laws that an expert in educational matters should be selected and elected by your Committee, who would give his attention to the detailed supervision of this branch of the Town Government. Consequently certain rules have been adopted carrying this idea into effect; they are published and can be procured by any citizen at the office of the Superintend- ent of Schools. These rules were prepared and after much study and many days deliberation accepted and adopted and are satisfactory to the Committee and Superintendent, and pro- vide a working basis by which we believe excellent results will
be obtained in this Department. Briefly stated all sub-divisions of the School Department, such as teachers, janitors and sub- committees, report to the Superintendent, who presents his re- port with his recommendations to the Committee; the Commit- tee act thereon and submit their orders to the Superintendent who carries them out in detail. These rules apply to election of teachers, their work in the schools, courses of study, text books, repairs and all other matters connected with the schools. The Superintendent during the past year was elected for three days
6
IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
in each week. We think that the work involved and required of him demands more time to be given by the Superintendent to the care of the schools, and we believe that whoever is Super- intendent of Schools during the coming year should devote his entire time to their supervision.
School Buildings.
We believe our present school buildings are insufficient in which to accommodate and to properly educate the pupils who are now attending and who will hereafter attend our schools. We have had several makeshifts in order to accommodate the pupils, with the result that some rooms are too large and some too small to properly provide educational facilities. This in- creases the expense of repairs and the care of the buildings and grounds, gives too large a class to some of the teachers and tro small a class to other teachers. We have several times called attention to the town that it would soon be necessary to erect new school buildings. With a new building erected, centrally located so that one heating plant could furnish heat for the sev- eral buildings, janitor service consolidated, with rooms of proper size and properly lighted and ventilated, the work could be more efficiently done and better results accomplished. This is espec- ially noticeable in our High School with its over-crowded con- dition, insufficient facilities and opportunities now for the proper conduct of recitations, resulting in waste of time and energy of both the pupils and teachers. We believe there should be pro- vided a new school building, one of sufficient size and with suf- ficient rooms and equipments to provide for a modern High School, and with accommodations for several classes in Upper Grade work. Your Committee also intend to have in your High School the teaching of a Commercial Course, and if this course is taught in our present High School building it will still further over-crowd our present school accommodations, but if a new
7
IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
school building is erected, accommodations can be provided for the proper teaching of the same. This also will necessitate the employing of additional teachers on our teaching force. If a new building is erected the smaller buildings could be used for class rooms for backward pupils, or temporarily used for overflow classes, and the present High School building used for Grade Schools. There would be ample opportunity to use them in connection with school work as occasion may require.
Manning High School Building.
This building was conveyed to the town in 1913. At the time the town acquired title your Committee expended such money from the school appropriations as would keep the build- ing temporarily in a usable condition. Last year we reported to the Finance Committee that a heating plant sufficiently large to heat the entire building should be installed. At the present time, less than two-thirds of the building can be used for school work. Considerable repairing must also be done on the interior of the building. Arrangements should be made so that the en-
tire school building can be heated. There either should be a new heating plant installed in said building, or an outside heat- ing plant erected, supplying heat for this building and any other building or buildings located in this vicinity used for school work. £ We believe the latter proposition is better, because then the basements of the present High School and of the Winthrop School buildings could be used for school work.
Teachers.
We have been unfortunate in being compelled to employ teachers, inexperienced so far as Ipswich is concerned, in both the High and Grade Schools at the beginning of the school year. This was due to many circumstances, one of which was inad- equacy of compensation as compared with other cities and
8
IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
towns. Although a few years ago we increased the teachers' salaries we still find that many other communities pay salaries much larger than paid by Ipswich, with the result that we be- come a teacher training school for other communities. These other communities appreciate, engage and command the ser- vices of many of our competent teachers. If we desire to retain our best teachers, we must increase their salaries. While we be- lieve the teachers we do engage are in the work because of their interest therein, we cannot expect them to remain here at a less compensation than they can receive elsewhere. It is for the citizens of the town to decide whether they will still conduct a training school, or give the pupils of the town the opportunities to receive an education from teachers who have been elected and have become proficient in their work in the Ipswich schools. We believe sufficient money should be appropriated to enable your Committee to command and retain the services of such teachers.
Manual Training and Domestic Science.
Your Committee inaugurated this Department of your school work a few years ago, and the longer it is conducted the better investment it proves to be. The miniature buildings in which this work is now done are too small to adequately pro- vide proper instruction, and should our suggestions as to the erection of a new school building be approved and adopted by the town, the buildings now used for Manual Training and Do- mestic Science could be abandoned and the other buildings, va- cated by the transfer of the pupils therein to a centrally located school, could be used for instruction in this branch of our school work. We further believe that additional time should be given to Manual Training. Up to the present time instruction has been given three days of each week. We believe that instruction in Manual Training should be given during each school day.
9
IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
High School Sessions.
Your Committee are of the opinion that at an early date it will be advisable to have two sessions in the High School work, that is, a morning and afternoon session, similar to that now con- ducted in the graded schools. We believe that very necessary work can only be accomplished under such system. It is also a training for the after life of the pupil of the High School in line with office or other daily work which will confront him at the close of his school course. It will give him the idea that in all daily work, there are two sessions. This is the way the business world is conducted, and as the High School is a bus- iness proposition we should conduct it by business methods If High School work is as important as we believe it is, then the entire day should be given for this line of work. A half-day session does not indicate that sufficient importance is given to the work that should be accomplished in our High School. We submit these suggestions for your consideration.
Evening School.
Many of the young men and women or the older boys and girls, resident in the town, come from foreign shores, and are unable to understand our government, customs and language. We must assimilate them and if we expect them to become good citizens, we must give them such instruction as will ac- quaint them with us and our institutions. Good wor': has been and is being accomplished by your Committee in the Evening Schools. If you desire to continue Evening Schools, appropria- tion must be made, and the amount needed will appear in our budget. We make no recommendations, but leave this matter for your consideration.
Finances.
Your Committee have endeavored to operate your schools at the minimum cost. We believe that a return has been given
10
IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
for every dollar expended, but we cannot increase the useful- ness of the schools if we are to have an appropriation not more adequate than that received in the past. The number of pupils has increased and demands of education become more taxing. Many of our text books have become worn and rendered use- less, and must be replenished. The state requirements as to heating, ventilation and safety are more strict and mean an in- creased expenditure in the repairing and care of buildings. We have prepared a budget recommending an increased appro- priation. If you desire the educational work of the Town Gov- ernment improved; to provide the pupils with such an education that it will be of practical benefit for them in their after life; to so educate them that they will become useful instead of orna- mental, or skilled employees rather than generally prepared workmen, then we must ask you to place at the disposal of your Committee sufficient funds to carry on the work. We believe that the amount we ask should be appropriated for this Depart- ment.
We recommend:
A full time superintendence of our School System. A new school building.
A heating plant for the Manning School building suf- ficiently large to heat the same and any other school . buildings in its vicinity.
A Commercial Course in the High School.
Additional teaching force.
Full time instruction in Manual Training.
Larger rooms and better accommodations for instruction in Manual Training and Domestic Science.
Increased appropriation.
Conclusion. We also submit herewith the reports of the Superintendent
11
IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
of Schools, the School Physician and Special Teachers, and en- dorse their recommendations. We are gratified with the work done by those who have had charge of the schools the past year. We believe that further improvement should be made and with necessary funds and accommodations the work will be so improved that any expert visiting our schools will satisfy you that full returns are given for the money expended. As in the past, one hundred cents in value have been given for every dollar expended, so increased expenditures will give increased returns.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE H. W. HAYES GEORGE E. MACARTHUR GEORGE W. TOZER
School Committee.
12
IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
WHERE THE SCHOOL MONEY GOES.
Cost of Conducting the Schools.
General Expense:
Salaries, Superintendent, Clerk and Truant Officer . $1022 50
Printing, stationery and postage. 164 62
Telephone and traveling expenses 56 15
School census and Physician 400 00
All other expenses 164 90
$1808 17
Teachers' Salaries:
Day Teachers and Evening Teachers. .
17387 99
Text Books and Supplies:
Text, Reference and Blank Books .... 673 74
Drawing and Manual Training supplies 312 26
Domestic Science supplies, etc. 364 33
1350 33
Transportation:
Teams and car fares. 1403 50
Janitors' Services:
All school buildings
2059 50
Fuel and Light:
Coal, wood, gas and electricity
1612 15
Buildings and Grounds:
Repairs, supplies, water rates, etc
2298 76
Furniture and Furnishings:
Desks, chairs, clocks, etc
571 29
Other Expenses:
Rent, insurance, graduation expenses. .
615 96
$29107 65
Permanent Outlay.
Portable school
$2100 00
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS,
Ipswich, Massachusetts, December, 1914.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
I. Organization of School Department.
A. Board.
B. Superintendent.
C. Principals.
D. Teachers.
E. Janitors.
II. Important Facts, and What They Mean.
A. Buildings.
B. Teachers.
C. Attendance.
D. Cost of Maintenance.
E. Salaries.
F. School Census.
G. Age and Grade of Pupils.
III. Principal Changes and Improvements.
A. Repairs.
B. Non-English School.
C. Credit for Manual Training.
D. New School Committee Rules.
E. Simplified Record System.
F. Minimum Requirements for Teachers.
G. New School House.
H. Meetings of Woman's Club. .
14
IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
IV. Criticisms and Recommendations.
A. Candlewood School should be closed.
B. Janitor Service.
C. Consolidation of Seventh and Eighth Grades.
D. Text Books.
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